Oakland Athletics' Bartolo Colon throws to the New York Yankees in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 11, 2013, in Oakland, Calif.
Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Oakland Athletics' Bartolo Colon throws to the New York Yankees in...

New York Yankees Ichiro Suzuki dives back into first base on a pick-off attempt by the Oakland Athletics Tuesday, June 11, 2013, in Oakland, Calif.
Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

New York Yankees Ichiro Suzuki dives back into first base on a...

New York Yankees' Lyle Overbay gets caught looking and take a third strike in the fourth inning during their MLB baseball game against the Oakland Athletics' Tuesday, June 11, 2013, in Oakland, Calif.
Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

New York Yankees' Lyle Overbay gets caught looking and take a third...

CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees throws to the Oakland Athletics in the third inning of their MLB baseball game June 11, 2013 in Oakland, California.
Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees throws to the Oakland...

Oakland Athletics' pitcher Grant Belfour and catcher Derek Norris celebrate their 6-4 win over the New York Yankees with third base coach Mike Gallego Tuesday, June 11, 2013, in Oakland, Calif.
Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Oakland Athletics' pitcher Grant Belfour and catcher Derek Norris...

Oakland Athletics' fans in right field celebrate as pitcher Grant Belfour is introduced in the 9th inning during their MLB baseball game with the New York Yankees Tuesday, June 11, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. A's won 6-4
Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Oakland Athletics' Chris Young greets Derek Norris after his three run homer against the New York Yankees in the 4th inning of their MLB baseball game Tuesday, June 11, 2013, in Oakland, Calif.
Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Oakland Athletics' Chris Young greets Derek Norris after his three...

Oakland Athletics' Bartolo Colon throws to the New York Yankees in the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 11, 2013, in Oakland, Calif.
Photo: Lance Iversen, The Chronicle

Oakland Athletics' Bartolo Colon throws to the New York Yankees in...

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 11: Harrison Barnes #40 of the Golden State Warriors throws out the ceramonial first pitch before a Major League Baseball game between the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum on June 11, 2013 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

All was not hunky-dory with the A's on Tuesday night, but the way they're going at home, they still managed to beat the Yankees.

Left fielder Yoenis Céspedes exited after two innings with a left hamstring strain, and Señor Strike, Bartolo Colon, walked a bunch of hitters, something he almost never does. He still pitched effectively, and Oakland weathered a hiccup by the bullpen to defeat New York 6-4.

The A's have won nine in a row at home, and they are 39-27 overall, their best record after 66 games since 1992, when they had the same mark. Oakland has won eight of its past 11 games against the Yankees, including five straight at the Coliseum. The A's moved into a first-place tie with Texas in the AL West.

Céspedes, out 15 days in April while on the disabled list with a muscle strain in his left hand, had a left hamstring strain a year ago and missed nine of 10 games last June with that injury. This injury is not thought to be nearly as severe, which makes a DL stay unlikely, but the team will know more Wednesday.

Céspedes incurred the strain while sprinting to first on a groundout in the first inning; he played defense in the second but then departed as a precaution.

The A's are 116-63 with Céspedes in the starting lineup versus 17-32 without him.

Center fielder Coco Crisp, who hit his 11th career leadoff homer Tuesday, began to favor his right leg when running after grounding out in the third; Melvin said Crisp has a right heel injury but that he is able to run with it.

Colon had an uncharacteristically walky night, putting four men aboard after walking only six in his first 12 games. He threw 27 pitches in the first inning, but slid away from bases-loaded trouble by getting Kevin Youkilis and Lyle Overbay to foul out.

Colon finished with six shutout innings and he has allowed only one run over his past four starts, a total of 29 innings.

Through translator Ariel Prieto, Colon said he was trying to throw strikes but he was a little "out of control in the zone."

Said Melvin: "Probably not his best stuff, but he still gave us six innings, zero runs."

Reliever Sean Doolittle, hammered to the tune of 10 runs in his previous five outings, pitched a 1-2-3 seventh. He said that Monday's day off allowed him to "press the reset button." He also mixed up his pitches more, throwing six changeups - and even his first slider to a right-hander this year.